Q
uality DeerM
anagementA
ssociationWORKSHOP
JANUARY 16th, 1999 1:00 P.M.
MINDEN CITY TWP HALL
MINDEN CITY MI 48456
Q
UALITY DEER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP FOR LANDOWNERS AND HUNTERS IN SANILAC COUNTY HUNTING ZONE AREA #124 IS A MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY/PRACTICE THAT UNITES LANDOWNERS, HUNTERS AND MANAGERS IN A COMMON GOAL OF PRODUCING BIOLOGICALLY AND SOCIALLY BALANCED DEER HERDS WITHIN EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, LEGAL CONTRAINTS. THIS APPROACH TYPICALLY INVOVES THE PROTECTION OF YOUNG BUCKS (YEARLING AND SOME 2.5 YEAR OLD BUCKS) COMBINED WITH AN ADEQUATE HARVEST OF FEMALE DEER TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY POPULATION IN BALANCE WITH EXISTING HABITAT CONDITIONS AND LAND OWNERS DESIRES. THIS LEVEL OF DEER MANAGEMENT INVOLVES THE PRODUCTION OF QUALITY DEER ( BUCKS, DOES, FAWNS), QUALITY HABITAT, QUALITY HUNTING EXPERIENCES, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, QUALITY HUNTERS.GUEST SPEAKERS
STATE DNR BIOLOGIST SLIDE PRESENTATION
QUALITY DEER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
ED SPINAZZOLA
CONTACT PERRY RUSSO (248) 620-1923
(248) 852-0400 X113
FOUR POINT CLUB
Dear Neighbors:
Hope many of you had an enjoyable and safe hunting season this year, while the addition of the use of treestands has been legalized for 1998 hunting season this will certainly help to increase the hunting experience. Consequently, with the aid of todays equipment and hunting techniques we also as land owners and hunting community need too lead our future generations by example and teach them stewardship with sound QUALITY DEER MANAGEMENT principles. Owning property here in the thumb area for twelve years has made me realize that if 75% of all deer in Michigan are on private property and the average age of bucks taken are one and half years old, collectively we have become more like the Detroit Lions. They have mastered how not to win a championship just as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in concentrating on satisfying public perceptions, has not been able to focus on the age structure, sex ratio, social aspects, etc. of our deer herd.
Quality Deer Management focuses not only on the buck segment of the population , but very heavily on the doe segment. Primary goals of a quality deer management program are to develop balance sex ratio and a good age structure within a deer population.
Another goal of a quality deer management is the quality of the hunting experience. This goal is rarely mentioned in popular outdoor magazines. The ethical behavior of hunters who follow the quaility deer management philosophy is another important goal. Hunters and landowners who truly
practice quality deer management must have the uptmost respect for the animal they pursue and the enviroment in which they live.
The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring a high quality and sustainable future for white-tailed deer and white-tailed deer hunting. Our mission is to promote ethical hunting, sound deer management, deer research, and positive relationships among landowners, hunters, and biologists through education.
Quality deer Management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, legal constraints. This approach typically involves the protection of young bucks (yearlings and some 2.5 year-old bucks) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions and landowner desires this level of deer management involves the production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat, quality hunting experiences, and, most importantly, quality hunters. When your management goal is to produce quality deer, and selectively harvesting antlerless deer goes hand-in-hand with letting young bucks walk. Antler characteristics (number of points, main-beam length, spread and mass) provide the necessary clues as to which bucks should be harvested. Considerations for harvesting antlerless deer are based on size, shape and behavior of deer and also upon actual hunting conditions.
It helps tremendously if neighboring properties and their hunting members are willing to assist in a new approach while changing old fundamentals that are antiquated in nature. Members will begin harvesting quality animals instead of just any deer and it will make you proud to change your hunting tactics and the educational process must never cease. Young and old alike must practice restraint. You will see more animals than you have ever seen before, and your hunting conditions will greatly be enhanced.
A successful QDM program requires an increased knowledge of deer biology an active participation in management. This level of involvement extends the role of the hunter from mere consumer to manager. The progression from education to understanding, and finally to respect, bestows and ethical obligation upon the hunter to practice sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional management regulations which allows the harvest of any legal buck and few, if any, does.
QDM guidelines are formulated according to property-specific objectives, goals, and limitations. Participating hunters enjoy both the tangible and intangible benefits of this approach. Pleasure can be derived from each hunting experience regardless if a shot is fired. What is important is the chance to harvest a quality buck – an opportunity lacking on may areas under traditional management. When a quality buck is taken on a QDM area, the pride can be shared by all property owners and hunters because it was they who produced it by allowing it to reach the older age classes which are necessary for large bodies and antlers.
Please join our meeting scheduled for January 16th, 1999 located at Minden City Twp Hall at 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Guest speaker from Quality Deer Management Association will simple provide the latest deer management information and techniques from the nations leading white-tail authorities presented in an easy to understand manner.
Anyone interested in participating with a Quality Deer Management Program on your property can contact me at (248) 620-1923 or
(248) 852-0400 x113
Keep the fun in Hunting
Perry Russo
FOUR POINT HUNT CLUB
Home
| Links Page | Branch Mtgs | Membership
| Branch News | Surveys
| QDMA Code | QDMA Natl | QDMA Supp. |
E-mail Us
© 1996 Mid-Michigan Branch Quality Deer Management Association